A Growing Tribute of Love and Service

Dear Envirocare Coordinators, Go Green Champions, and Eco Explorers,

Following the global celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s avatarhood last year, we enter this next century with a renewed commitment to His mission. The milestone serves as a sacred reminder to reflect on and expand the infinite love He showered upon us, translating our gratitude into action.

In this edition, we highlight not only the importance of caring for Nature, but also the value of nurturing diverse and balanced ecosystems through thoughtful practices such as mixed-species planting. We shine a light on our Sai Family in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zone 6, whose recent seva reflects their deep devotion and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. By their participation in the global One Million Sai Trees Initiative, these volunteers offer their love and service to Mother Nature, supporting biodiversity while transforming their selfless service into a lasting gift of love for future generations.

“Where is God? The answer is provided by Nature. Who is it that has created the five elements, the five life-breaths, the five sheaths, the five external sense organs, and the five internal sense organs, which are all ceaselessly carrying on their functions according to their prescribed roles? The regular cycle of seasons serves as a valuable lesson for humanity. Therefore, Nature is the demonstrable proof for the existence of God. Nature is not under any obligation to any man; it takes no orders from any man and it operates according to the will of the Divine.”

On October 14, 2025, four devotees from Sarajevo, in collaboration with a local forestation company, planted approximately 120 spruce trees on Mount Igman. The devotees undertook the entire activity, demonstrating their strong spirit of unity, dedication, and selfless service.

Building on this noble effort, on  November 3, six volunteers planted 50 trees in the city of Tuzla on private land belonging to a lady devotee. This initiative contributed not only to reforestation but also to biodiversity, planting 30 pine trees, 10 acacia trees, and several other species, including linden, birch, oak, and hornbeam.

By these activities guided by His message of love and caring for Nature, devotees in Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed their sincere gratitude to Swami for His continued inspiration.

Research shows that forests with greater biodiversity are more productive and efficient than those with only one species (monocultures). This positive Biodiversity–Productivity Relationship (BPR) means that when tree diversity is reduced, forests become less resilient and absorb less carbon dioxide, weakening their role as a natural carbon sink. As a result, biodiversity loss can negatively impact climate regulation and ecosystem stability. To keep ecosystems healthy, productive, and sustainable, it is important to promote mixed-species forests (Liang et al, 2016). The recent tree-planting initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Mount Igman and in Tuzla contributed to this goal by introducing a mix of spruce, pine, acacia and other tree species. By planting diverse trees, the devotees enhanced local biodiversity and also supported long-term forest productivity.

By joining hands, we can create a lasting positive impact on our planet and build a meaningful legacy for generations to come. Let us continue loving and caring for our Earth, while inspiring others to unite with us in advancing our 2026 environmental initiatives to shape a greener, more sustainable future.

Schweickert (2005), who also serves on the SSSIO Environmental Sustainability Committee, states:

“Sathya Sai wants us to realize it is not enough to witness the beauty of Nature or be grateful for Its bounty. We must seek to know it as God Itself—a physical manifestation of the Divine in every leaf, twig, blade of grass, as well as insects, predators, songbirds, and stones. Everything, all of Creation, is an aspect of God, as are we.”

We invite you to share the environmental initiatives and tree-planting activities you are organising in your communities, countries, or Zones at gogreen@sathyasai.org.

VISIT the Environmental Sustainability Hub for more insights, Go Green tips, and resources.👨‍🌾

With Sai Love and Care 🌱🌞

Environmental Sustainability Committee

Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

References

_{Liang, J. et al. (2016) ‘Positive biodiversity–productivity relationship predominant in global forests’, Science, 354(6309), aaf8957. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309127324_Positive_biodiversity-productivity_relationship_predominant_in_global_forests} 

_{Schweickert, T. K. 2005. Tread softly: Sathya Sai Baba’s Teachings on Nature and the Environment. Salem, Oregon: Oak Savanna Publishing, p. 30.}